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GUIDE TO THE DAILY EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE Here are the original steps of the daily examen from Ignatius's spiritual
exercises of 1584
METHOD FOR MAKING THE GENERAL EXAMEN
It contains in it five Points.
First Point. The first Point is to give thanks to God our Lord for the
benefits received.
Second Point. The second, to ask grace to know our sins and cast them out.
Third Point. The third, to ask account of our soul from the hour that we
rose up to the present Examen, hour by hour, or period by period: and first
as to thoughts, and then as to words, and then as to acts, in the same
order as was mentioned in the Particular Examen.
Fourth Point. The fourth, to ask pardon of God our Lord for the faults.
Fifth Point. The fifth, to purpose amendment with His grace. The examen is "a daily intensive exercise of discernment in one's life."
(Fr. Achenbrenner) It is at the heart of the spiritual exercises and ample
time should be given to reflection. A personal time just to think things
over is a good start, but this can be helped by journaling or talking with
a spiritual director or trusted other to help work things out. The examen
is meant to be a personal exercise shared with God. It should become an
attitude of heart. Already we would have made use of each of the steps of
the examen on their own, but the examen is a complete package. It is
important when starting to give sufficient time to enter into each step and
make each step one's own. Each step can take time to really understand and
participate in. For some it takes years. There are obviously various levels
of experience.
To begin with take time with each step. It is not a matter of breadth, but
depth. It is not a matter of finishing all the steps. It is important to
really enter each step and with limited time, just do what you can. The
examen is a work of grace, and it can take time for it to be transformed
from our work to become a work of God in us. Where is God active in my
life? Where is he leading? THE FIRST STEP - GRATITUDE
This step can lead to great joy. It is the step of realization that all is
gift from God, and through giving thanks to God for the many gifts we
receive and have, our hearts can be freed. Think of the specific gifts over
the last day. Think about how God has blessed you. Allow yourself to thank
God for things you don't normally thank him for. It is worth persevering
until a deep thankfulness is gained for what has happened. Even thank God
for the bad things, for God can even bring good out of them.
God is gift itself and he never tires of giving us gifts. He wants to give
us gifts more than we want them. THE SECOND STEP: PETITION
"Lord, what do you want to show me about this day?" This is a humble prayer
asking God for the grace to make the examen fruitful. We are asking God for
the gift of understanding that leads to new freedom. We pray for deeper
insight in God's workings and any resistance that hinders God's action.
This step should not be a cursory petition, but a deep prayer of the heart
begging God for his light to bear upon our soul. It is particularly
important in times of desolation to petition the Lord for guidance. STEP THREE: REVIEW
The review should be systematic, ie hour by hour or period of time to
period of time.
Review the emotional setting (mood), emotions, thoughts, words and acts.
Then for each set of experiences reflect upon the beginning, middle and
end. Usually a particular event (whether, mood, emotion, thought, word or
action) takes your attention. Explore what this leads to and from where did
it come. As you explore this series of events you may become aware that
what initially appeared as a good thing, turned out quite bad. Once the
full revelation of the series has occurred, then after any needed
forgiveness, it is possible in the final step to devise a way to not fall
for the same trick that led you astray.
It is in this third step that we apply the rules for spiritual discernment
(see the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius) and see if any movement is
positive or negative.
Inspirations, opportunities or temptations, hinderances.
How did I respond?
Was there a particular cycle?
How did the mood start/change?
Was there a trigger?
Why was I feeling like that?
What did it lead to?
Is it related to something/someone?
There are so many different possibilities, that really the first is to gain
an awareness of what is happening. Then the reason for its beginning,
development and what it leads to.
An example may be helpful. The mood is desolation, and I am being tempted
to despair, I feel like taking a break from my duty, but I am aware of it,
so I resist and try to continue my work asking for God's help. I may decide
to pray a chaplet and this helps give me the strength to keep going and
gradually I find the desolation dissipates. FOURTH STEP: FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is the natural complement to the review step. We would not be
able to bear the weight of seeing our sin and frailty if not for the
knowledge and experience of a loving God. God loves us and forgives us. It
is in this step that we receive that forgiveness and know all is well. But
first it must be asked for, and hence the need for this step. While a "I
confess ..." prayer can be used, it is important that this not be a
routine, but an actual encounter with God's loving mercy. To experience God
actually forgiving and renewing me in His love, personally, now is the aim
of this step. This step should be a step of joy. This step should be an
open and honest step. FIFTH STEP: RENEWAL
All the previous steps (the past) lead to this step which looks to the
future. This step is to "to purpose amendment with His grace". The issues
of the past, present us with opportunities for growth. There are several
key questions, "What area do I need to work on the most?" "How could I have
acted better in that situation?" "Do I need to make an adjustment to my
priorities?" "What do I need to do to improve the situation?" The previous
steps if entered into fully, provide ample insights as to what to work on.
With the help of the Holy Spirit creative responses can be illuminated.
Some will be small initiatives, others larger. It is better to hold onto
and be consistent with small things, that to attempt larger projects. "Inch
by inch is a cinch, yard by yard is too hard". Be faithful in the small
things, and God will lead you to greater. The response should normally be
small, eg the decision to call someone. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Initially the examen should be practiced mechanically, one step after the
other to become familiar with the steps and to gradually find a home in
each step as well as the natural process from one step to the next. If
however you feel led to a particular step, or to spend more time with one
step than another, you should yield to the Spirit. You should also be aware
of your own inclinations, which may need to be resisted, eg you feel angry
and upset and so you want to review your feelings, step three, but you
should resist and first thank God, which may dispel some of the anger, and
by asking for God's help you may shed light on the situation rather than
review how you are right and the other person is wrong, to be able to see
your own sin which should be in step three ready for seeking forgiveness
from God in step four. If in doubt go through each step mechanically. As
you become more attuned, you will be able to perceive the guidance of the
Holy Spirit and recognize his ways more clearly, so it becomes more
spiritual and guided.
The examen can be prayed anywhere which is conducive to reflection.
The examen should be prayed daily and ideally at a routine time and place
to aid reflection and focus on the examen itself.
It is good to use a journal as an aid, so all the reflection is exposed and
writing aids reflection and perspective.
The examen is complemented with a daily prayer routine which should deepen
as the examen deepens.
Structure aids freedom. If you just sit and let yourself reflect or just
'pray' that way, it might not be as fruitful as focusing on each step and
engaging with it actively. This will increase an ability to listen to the
Spirit and instill the habit of each step so it becomes natural. This will
lead to a natural habit of being open to the Spirit throughout the day. BEGINNING THE EXAMEN
It is important to spend a little time at the start to let go of the day
and the emotions of the day, thoughts, and events, so as to rise up a
little with God's grace above the day. This way you are able to see over
the day with a greater vantage point. This way you may see things that you
might have missed if you rushed into the examen. It also provides the
opportunity to short circuit any current movements that might need to be
resisted. ENDING THE EXAMEN
The classic ending is the colloquy which is a heart-to-heart conversation
with Jesus. Whatever the experience of the examen, this is like walking
back down from the experience with Jesus and allows for some directed chat-
chat to prepare for 're-entry' into the world. It can take many forms and
include some intimate formula of surrender, or prayer. It is during this
time that a key point from the examen is chosen to be taken on board for
application or guidance in the person's life after the examen. THE EXAMEN AND JOURNALLING
It is best to begin the examen by writing a response to some points of the
examen. Both a diary and a journal can be used at the same time. The
thankfulness could be a poem in the journal, or a note in a diary to thank
someone for the help they gave as a way to express thanks to God. The
petition could be a special prayer used to ask for the grace needed. Or a
journal prayer created to help the person. The review could be a deep
journal reflective piece, or a symbolic diagram of a situation. It could be
a review of the things to do in a diary, or a reflection of the events in a
diary to aid reflection on the day. The forgiveness could be a particular
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